1 commonline and the common record: the building of convergence kim shiflette, usa funds bob king,...

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CommonLine and the CommonLine and the Common Record: The Common Record: The

Building of ConvergenceBuilding of Convergence

Kim Shiflette, USA FundsBob King, Citibank Student Loans

Session 34Session 34

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Session ObjectivesSession Objectives

Understanding– Convergence– XML– Common Record– Common Record: CommonLine

Benefits for Software Vendors Benefits for Schools Next Steps and Timing

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Convergence - An EvolutionConvergence - An Evolution

The FFELP community was pursuing implementation of its newest standard, CommonLine 5.0

At the same time SIS and FAMS vendors and schools were understanding FSA’s new COD Common Record requirements

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Software vendors began meeting in late 2001 to consider the benefits of convergence of FFELP’s CommonLine and FSA’s Common Record requirements

Consensus was reached by the vendors that striving for a single data standard was preferable to implementing two divergent standards

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The convergence proposal was brought to the NCHELP Electronic Standards Committee (ESC) for review and consideration

The ESC, representing the FFELP community, concurred with the vendor’s proposal and has invested heavily in the convergence effort over the past year

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Common Data Dictionary across higher education

Similar XML schemas Similar processing concepts Business rules as much the same as

regulation and product function will allow

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Why Adopt XML?Why Adopt XML?

XML is technology-neutral, allowing trading partners to use different technologies in their own applications

XML allows schools to use one Common Record between disparate databases or different systems

XML allows users to share information seamlessly

XML is future-oriented

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Why Adopt XML?Why Adopt XML?

XML can be used to support both batch processing and real-time processing

XML provides easy flexibility between trading partners when needed

Let’s you send only the data needed for the process being performed

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The Common RecordThe Common Record

Core Components Data Dictionary– Common definitions– Common values

Schemas– Common Record – COD– Common Record – CommonLine– Common Record – ISIR

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Format is student-centric, showing data for multiple financial aid programs in one student complex element

The entire common record or only those portions of the common record that changed can be transmitted

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XML allows the Common Record to be easily changed (extensible)

Format is human-readable, facilitating problem solving

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The Common Record The Common Record Schema StructureSchema Structure

<Common Record>

</Common Record>

<Entity>

</Entity>

<Student>

</Student>

<Award>

</Award>

<Borrower></Borrower>

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CommonLine ReengineeringCommonLine Reengineering

Streamlining the application and disbursement processes– All records sent in a single file– Pre and post guarantee changes can now be

sent together– Routing is at the record level– Moving from transaction based to end result

based changes– Support of real-time XML-based functionality

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Example – pre-disbursement cancellation– In the CommonLine 5.0 process

• Change type code• Loan Type Code• Disbursement Identification Number• Disbursement Date• Cancellation Date• Cancellation Amount• Revised Disbursement Amount

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Example – pre-disbursement cancellation– In the Common Record: CommonLine

process• LoanAmount (new value)• DisbursementNumber (old value)• DisbursementAmount (zero)• CancellationDate (new value)

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CR:C supports the following:– Loan Requests– Certification Requests– Disbursement Rosters, Acknowledgements,

Forecasts– Pre and post guarantee changes– Pre and post disbursement changes– Responses in three different models

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Common Record: CommonLineCommon Record: CommonLine

CommonLine converging and aligning with the Common Record– COD standards with the flexibility of FFELP – Supports all functionality available in

CommonLine Release 5– Supports FFELP and alternative loans

Designed to meet the needs of– Schools– SIS/FAMS Vendors

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The reengineering of CommonLine to fit the Common Record model has been a highly cooperative collaboration– NCHELP Electronic Standards Committee– Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council– Department of Education FSA

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Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC)– Serves as an umbrella organization for all

wishing to support electronic standards in higher education

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National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP) Electronic Standards Committee (ESC)– Responsible for the creation and

maintenance of standards for the electronic exchange of information for FFELP and alternative loans

– Diverse industry representation

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Progress Report Collaboration continues to move us

forward Schools, The College Board, Datatel,

Oracle, PeopleSoft, SCT Corp., and Sigma Systems have all indicated their support

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Progress Report Implementation Guide development has

proceeded at an accelerated pace– First draft for public review – May 2003– Second draft for public review – June 2003– Final documentation published – July 2003– Review and updates to documentation -

Ongoing

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Next Steps for FFELPNext Steps for FFELP

Fine tune and finalize schema development

Fine tune and update the documentation Review and resolve reported issues Develop a testing tool for CR:C Training, education, outreach

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CRC Training Sessions provide a detailed orientation and introduction to the CR:C standards– Jacksonville on January 29-30– Phoenix in February 23-24– Additional as needed

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The ESC is initiating an effort in collaboration with the vendors and FSA to develop a standard transport for the transmission of batch and real-time data that could be employed across higher education for the electronic exchange of data.– Particularly important because of the large

data payloads enabled by XML

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The Implementation ScheduleThe Implementation Schedule

The Electronic Standards Committee has been in close touch with College Board, Datatel, PeopleSoft, Oracle, SCT, Sigma for their plans.

All are in various stages of analysis and are forecasting production implementations between Fall ’04 and Spring ’05. Sigma is looking for testing partners in Spring ’04.

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The Implementation ScheduleThe Implementation Schedule

Most lenders, guarantors, and servicers are planning schedules parallel to the vendor timelines. AES is looking at Spring ’04

Most are too early in analysis to determine if their implementation strategy will be all-in or phase-in.

If phase-in, most would implement in lifecycle sequence

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What this means for SchoolsWhat this means for Schools

Schools with a FAMS system– Stay in touch with your vendor for updates on

their implementation plans Schools that do their own programming

– Access all of the documentation available online for your IT staff

– Submit questions and issues at www.nchelp.com for review and resolution by the NCHELP ESC

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Information SourcesInformation Sources

NCHELP - The CRC Implementation Guide is available at www.nchelp.com

IFAP – COD news, technical documentation, updates, etc. at ifap.ed.gov

PESC – XML Technical Specifications, Data Dictionaries, Schemas, assistance and approvals, etc. at www.standardscouncil.org

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We’ll be happy to helpWe’ll be happy to help

We appreciate your feedback and comments, and welcome your questions. We can be reached at:

Kim Shiflette [email protected]

Bob King [email protected]

1 commonline and the common record: the building of convergence kim shiflette, usa funds bob king,...

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